Armed Forces chief and German counterpart make 'moral case' for rearming in letter

The head of Britain's Armed Forces and his German counterpart have said there is a "moral" case for rearming against the threat of Russia.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, the Chief of the Defence Staff, made the case for investing more money into defence, alongside General Carsten Breuer, Germany's defence chief. 

In a joint letter published in the Guardian and German newspaper Die Welt, the duo said they were speaking "not merely as the military leaders of two of Europe's largest military spenders, but as voices for a Europe that must now confront uncomfortable truths about its security".

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International order is being destroyed, Merz says 

The letter was published while many of the world's leaders, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and German chancellor Friedrich Merz, were at the Munich Security Conference, where the world's security challenges, such as the Ukraine war, were discussed. 

Mr Merz alluded to the conference's theme – "under destruction" – during his speech in Bavaria, adding that the world order is being damaged. "It probably means that the international order based on rights and rules is currently being destroyed," he said. 

"But, I'm afraid we have to put it in even harsher terms. This order, as flawed as it has been even in its heyday, no longer exists." 

CDU party chair Mr Merz argued that great power politics has returned, saying that "we've entered an era that, once again, is marked by power and big power politics very openly", before he highlighted Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. 

The 70-year-old also said that the world has entered a new period of conflicts and wars that will alter the globe in ways that the world's leaders did not anticipate. 

Need for a step change in our defence and security, armed forces chiefs say

ACM Sir Rich and Gen Breuer warned that Russia has "shifted decisively westward" amid its invasion of Ukraine, and suggested there was a need for a "step change in our defence and security" across Europe.

Writing about the threat of Russian violence outside Ukraine, the letter said: "History teaches us that deterrence fails when adversaries sense disunity and weakness. If Russia perceives Europe in this way, it may be emboldened to extend its aggression beyond Ukraine. 

"Indeed, we know that Moscow's intentions range wider than the current conflict."

ACM Sir Rich and his Berlin counterpart referenced the idea that entire societies need to be involved in combating the threats to Europe. 

The UK Armed Forces' boss previously raised the requirement of the "whole-of-society" to be involved at his first annual Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) lecture in December last year. 

"There is a moral dimension to this endeavour. Rearmament is not war-mongering; it is the responsible action of nations determined to protect their people and preserve peace. Strength deters aggression. Weakness invites it," the pair wrote. 

"Finally, the complexity of threats demands a whole-of-society approach and an honest, continent-wide conversation with the public that defence cannot be the preserve of uniformed personnel alone. It is a task for each and every one of us."

Sir Keir announced at the conference that the UK would send a Carrier Strike Group to patrol the Arctic amid fears of Russian and Chinese influence in the High North.